Having a common interface for DVD, web site and BluRay?

[grendizer]

Hello all, I need your opinion about an idea I had.

As a 3d freelancer artist, I often need to show off my work. I like to have a web site for anyone to see, but I also like to have a DVD that I send to clients and companies for easy viewing. And now with my new Blu-ray burner, I am able to author my 3d Portfolio on Blu-Ray format, so people can see my demo reel on HD quality

The problem is: almost every year, I have to upgrade the DVD, the next year, I should upgrade the web site, and then again, the BluRay. So it’s 3 different works, too much time spent, and less time for 3d projects.

So I was thinking: why not having the same interface for the 3 medias?
With Adobe Encore, you can author a Blu-ray and output it to Blu-ray video disc, DVD video, and Flash web site : http://www.adobe.com/products/premiere/encore/ .
According to this web site, there is a similar function in Ulead DVD MovieFactory : http://www.computervideo.net/dec6.html .

This choice would have advantages and disadvantages:
- Main problem: DVD and Blu-rays are made to be watched at 2 meters away from the monitor, this means big and few menu items on one “page”. This page on a web site, watched close from the monitor, would not look so good.
- Main benefit: it is just one interface that you output in 3 different formats. It’s like when you output your demo reel video in Quicktime, WMV and MPEG, you don’t need to start over all the work for each formats. The job is done only once, so you have more time to take care of it.

Considering this, I haven’t quite made up my mind yet, about starting a mixed formats interface. I’d like to know your opinion about it.

Thanks!
David

[thecoalman]

I have a variety of apps (including two Ulead) that will output as .SWF but this in essence is just a video file. You'd have to check to see if Encore keeps the interactive part otherwise its not very useful for the web.

[grendizer]

Hey Coalman,

Can you tell me if Sony's DVD Architect is able to output to SWF?
Which other software can do that?

Yes, Encore DVD will create a website that is as much interactive as the original DVD and will also allow more links than the original DVD.

David

[thecoalman]

I don't know about Sony. As far as using Encore Flash comes with some downsides. Specifically search engines can't index, at least until recently:

http://searchengineland.com/080701-000002.php

You're still going to run into problems though, having said that it sounds like a good idea if you're not overly concerned with SE rankings.